Bleu Pois may go off a shorter price than his form warrants given that he hails from a powerful stable, and as this is a wide open affair, better value should be sought and DARK GENTLEMAN looks capable of taking this contest. Bleu Pois has gone off favourite on three of his last six starts but has failed to oblige, well beaten last time, though running vaguely promisingly. He will come on for that, his second run of the season, but he is 11lbs higher than his last winning mark and is readily taken on. Kirkside Pleasure ran well on testing ground at Ayr recently, only being run out of it in the closing stages. He has been raised 4lbs for that good effort, and although he has not won for 3 years, he should not be discounted. Dark Gentleman has been the epitome of consistency, producing a series of placed efforts. He was sent off favourite on his handicap bow at Sedgefield on Boxing Day, and although beaten into second, he kept on well. Raised 5lbs here, Dark Gentleman is taken to prove too smart for his rivals.
Flying Doctor 9-1 (11-5) Held up in rear, weakened after 4 out, 5th of 10, 12l behind Soul Angel (10-11) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy in Dec.
Of Course (FR) 50-1 (10-8) Close up on outside, ridden 3 out, weakened approaching next, 4th of 16, well behind Glenary (9-11) at Aintree 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) hvy in Nov.
Quaddick Lake (IRE) 14-1 (11-9) Mid-division, weakened soon after 3 out, 12th of 13, well behind Kadouchski (11-3) at Sandown 2m nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Dec.
Storm Prospect 25-1 (11-0) Held up, hit 5th, weakened next, left remote 3rd last, 3rd of 5, well behind Quicuyo (10-7) at Ayr 2m beg chs (2) hvy in Dec.
Prioryjo 25-1 (9-11) Mid-division, lost place 4 out, weakened next, 10th of 11, well behind Pagan Starprincess (11-5) at Newcastle 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Dec.
Dark Gentleman 7-2fav (11-7) Mid-division, smooth headway and every chance 2 out, ridden and kept on one pace, 2nd of 14, 2l behind Longdale (10-11) at Sedgefield 2m 4f cnd hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Dec.
Solid Silver 33-1 (10-9) In touch, in 4th when blundered 5 out, never dangerous after, 6th of 14, well behind Ernst Blofeld (10-12) at Haydock 2m 4f nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Stick Together 4-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders, effort 3 out, ridden and kept on same pace from next, 4th of 16, 7l behind River Shanakill (10-10) at Newcastle 2m 4f mrs mdn hdl (5) gs in Nov.
Bleu Pois (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, effort 3 out, one pace from next, 5th of 13, 18l behind Whatdoidowiththat (10-9) at Catterick 3m 1f cnd hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Dec.
Presque Perdre 20-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, weakened 2 out, mistake last, last of 7, 23l behind Boris The Blade (11-12) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy in Nov.
Gallileo Figaro (USA) 11-1 (10-12) In touch, weakened 3 out, 6th of 15, 32l behind Festival King (10-4) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Dec.
Kirkside Pleasure (IRE) 10-3 (11-0) Led, ridden and headed last, kept on same pace, 2nd of 7, 3l behind Boris The Blade (11-12) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy in Nov.
Polly Whitefoot 7-1 (9-7) Towards rear, smooth headway and every chance 3 out, led briefly next, ridden and kept on one pace until weakened flat, 3rd of 7, 8l behind Charlie Crab (11-11) at Perth 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Jul.
Admiral Savannah (IRE) 9-2 (10-13) Mid-division, headway 4f out, driven and one pace from 2f out, 4th of 14, 11l behind Falpiase (11-11) at Wetherby 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Dec.
Clueless 8-1 (11-7) Tracked leader, lost place 3 out, weakened next, 10th of 12, 42l behind Cruise Director (11-7) at Market Rasen 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Dec.
Ice Image (IRE) 22-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 2 out, 7th of 18, 17l behind Run Forest Run (10-9) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Oct.
Karlani (IRE) 18-1 (11-6) Mid-division, ridden 7th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Admiral Savannah (11-0) at Wetherby 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Dec, 14 ran.
Delightfully (FR) 11-4fav (11-6) Mid-division, ridden and outpaced 3 out, never on terms, 8th of 12, 12l behind Kings Maiden (11-7) at Sedgefield 2m 4f mrs hcp hdl (4) sft in Nov.
